Media playback control through remote device control

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for establishing a connection with a first processor-based device at a second processor-based device, receiving through the connection a control command from the first processor-based device implemented according to a first protocol, wherein the command corresponds to a remote control command received through a remote control device at the first processor-based device, translating the control command from the first protocol to a second protocol executable at the second processor-based device, and executing an event in response to the control command having been translated into the second protocol.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A processor based system comprising:
 a network interface module configured to establish a connection with an external device and further configured to receive through the connection a control command from the external device implemented according to a first protocol, wherein the control command corresponds to a remote control command received through a remote control device at the external device;   a command module configured to translate the control command from the first protocol to a second protocol executable at the processor based system;   one or more media player applications configured to execute an event in response to the control command having been translated into the second protocol;   an output interface for providing a media content to the external device through a content transport connection separate from the connection;   wherein the network interface module is further configured to send, over the connection that is separate from the content transport connection, an acknowledgement message indicating successful execution of the event controlling the playback of the media content; and   a processor programmed to determine whether the event controlling the playback of the media content was successfully executed and display a notification that the control command was not successful upon a determination by the processor that the acknowledgment message indicates that the event controlling the playback of the media content was not successfully executed.   
     
     
         12 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the event comprises simulating a function at the processor based device corresponding to the remote control command received at the external device. 
     
     
         13 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the command module is further configured to:
 detect an active media player application of the one or more media player applications, the active media player application comprising a media player application currently providing media content to the external device; and   translate the control command to execute the event for the active media player application.   
     
     
         14 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a TCP connection. 
     
     
         15 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a mouse event that simulates a function typically performed by a mouse input. 
     
     
         16 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the network interface module is further configured to send an acknowledgment to the external device. 
     
     
         17 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the external device comprises a second processor-based device configured to:
 receive the remote control command; and   send the control command corresponding to the remote control command over the connection to the processor based device.   
     
     
         18 . The processor based system of  claim 17 , wherein sending the control command comprises:
 translating the remote control command implemented in a remote control signaling protocol to the control command.   
     
     
         19 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the second protocol comprises a protocol executable by the one or more media player applications. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more computer readable programs adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps comprising:
 establishing a connection with a first processor-based device at a second processor-based device;   receiving through the connection a control command from the first processor-based device implemented according to a first protocol, wherein the control command corresponds to a remote control command received through a remote control device at the first processor-based device;   translating the control command from the first protocol to a second protocol executable at the second processor-based device;   executing an event in response to the control command having been translated into the second protocol; and   transporting media content from the second processor-based device to the first processor-based device through a content transport connection separate from the connection; and   sending from the second processor-based device, over the connection that is separate from the content transport connection, an acknowledgement message to the first processor-based device indicating whether the event controlling the playback of the media content was successfully executed, the sending of the acknowledgement message from the second processor-based device to the first processor-based further including determining by the first processor-based device whether the event controlling the playback of the media content was successfully executed and displaying a notification on the first processor-based device that the control command was not successful upon a determination by the first processor-based device that the acknowledgment message indicates that the event controlling the playback of the media content was not successfully executed.   
     
     
         21 . The processor based system of  claim 11 , wherein the executing an event controlling the playback of the media content further includes displaying the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device and one of:
 executing a pause command to pause the playback of the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device; and   executing a play command to start the playback of the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device.   
     
     
         22 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the executing an event controlling the playback of the media content further includes displaying the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device and one of:
 executing a pause command to pause the playback of the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device; and   executing a play command to start the playback of the media content on both the second processor-based device and the first processor-based device.